Justin Amash (MI-03)

THE CANDIDATE

Name: Justin Amash

Age: 31Hometown: Cascade, MI

Family: Justin and his wife Kara have three children: Alexander, Anwen, and Evelyn.

Personal Biography: A Michigan native, Justin Amash was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised in Kentwood, Michigan. Here he attended Grand Rapids Christian High School, followed by the University of Michigan where he graduated magna cum laude with an A.B. in Economics, and his J.D. at the University of Michigan Law School in 2005.

Political Biography: Justin Amash was first elected to the Michigan State House in 2008, defeating Dem. Albert Abbassee 61% to 36%. On January 3, 2011, Amash assumed office with the 112th United States Congress as the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 3rd congressional district, where he sits on the Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Joint Economic Committee. Amash has been endorsed by The Club for Growth, Rep. Ron Paul, and FreedomWorks PAC, and he endorsed Ron Paul for President. Amash is one of only a handful of current Republican Congressman who voted “No” on the re-authorization of the Patriot Act, NDAA, and raising the debt ceiling, and he is currently the second youngest sitting member of Congress.

THE RACE

Primary Election: August 7, 2012

General Election: November 6, 2012

The District: The 3rd Congressional District of Michigan is a congressional district in Western Michigan, boasting a consistent history of electing Republican Representatives which earned Amash a 59% victory in the 2010 congressional election. During the previous congressional session, the partisan voter index (PVI) listed Amash’s district as R+6 – meaning the Republican candidate can expect to receive votes at the equivalent of six points above the national average of Republican voters. (Please note that recent gerrymandering has affected this district, reducing the clear implications of the 2011 PVI number.)

THE ISSUES

Economics

Supports a full audit and abolishing the Federal Reserve

Supports a full repeal of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank)

Opposes all spending bills which would increase the debt limit or create an unbalanced budget

Opposes corporate welfare

Opposes all tax increases

Foreign Policy

Believes only Congress can declare war

Opposes War in Iraq

Opposes War in Afghanistan

Voted against intervention in Libya

Wants to find and cut waste in the military budget

Opposes Nation Building

Supports a non-interventionist foreign policy

Civil Liberties

Opposes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Opposes the PATRIOT Act

Opposes TSA

Opposes SOPA and all restrictions on internet freedom

Federalism & the 10th Amendment

Supports federalism on all legislation not specifically authorized in the Constitution

Cutting Government

Supports ending the Department of Education

Supports a full repeal of Obamacare

Won't vote on any bill without reading it

Personally explains every vote he makes on his Facebook page

Won't vote in favor of any bill which is not explicitly constitutional